I think I'm the first one for the new year! woo hoo!!

does anyone here use dedicated camera backpacks?

I've been researching & posted this over at Ausphotography but thought i'd check with the usual suspects here.

My situation and requirements -

We are off to Northern Italy, Bellagio to be precise, for 3 weeks in Feb/Mar (yes we know it will be cold that's the point). We are basing ourselves in an apartment and figuring out what we want to do each day as it comes and I will have the following which i would like to comfortably take with me in one pack when we travel about.
* Canon SLR & extra lens
* Panasonic HDC-TM900 HD Vid cam (quite compact)
* Small Kodak PAS
* iPad
* And of course some personal items like passports etc.

plus i want one bag to take all this as carry on luggage so include all my peripherals like chargers and cables for the getting there and back part of the journey.

My research over at Ausphotography has me leaning towards the Lowepro range and I particularly like these 2 models.

Fastpack 350

Pro Runner 300

So does anyone here use such an item can give me some feedback, tips, advice, or other varieties to look at?

thanks

the girl has a lowepro, trekker plus aw it is a back pack jobbie, that also has a rolling base AND (just mind you) fits into the overhead locker

yep seen these. The Pro Runner also has a version in the wheels and pop up handle style. adds to weight though.
no wheels - 2.1kg
wheels/handle - 4.1kg

not sure i need them.

I've found the Digital Camera Warehouse at Annerly stocks them so will go check some out this week.

Yeah Lowepro are the goods.

I have a normal over shoulder bag that fits dslr, video cam, flash lens etc.

Good quality stuff.

If you have the cash, I would go a crumper bag over the lowepro, however you are looking at twice the price (they are awesome bags and have a lifetime warranty tho).

That said, I use a Crumpler for my shoulder bag and the Lowepro Fastpack 350 for travel.
It is a very nice quality and fits everything in for me. Just be aware that if you are trekking around with it, its a good idea to take a small shoulder bag or choose 1 lens for the day because it gets bloody heavy on your shoulders fast if you have it fully loaded with the laptop as well.

Iv done travelling inside AU and used it in NZ as well and it suited its purpose well. I really enjoy the fact that it stands up by itself (instead of falling over)

One option with Crumpler is the camera pouches which gives you a bit more freedom, but protections your camera. You just put these in your normal backpack.

http://www.crumpler.com/AU/Camera-Bags/Camera-Pouches.html?LanguageCode=EN

(The last three...)

I'd go Kata or Crumpler over Lowepro. With the Kata 3n1 range probably be the pick for that much gear.

heh, DoCZero makes a valid point, you don't want to advertise you are a photographer with XX amount of gear with you....

the pouches that pinky mentioned could work well in a 'normal' backpack, but then that screams tourist so ya can't win I guess..

Hi Crazymorton - It depends how much you carry-

* Canon SLR & extra lens
* Panasonic HDC-TM900 HD Vid cam (quite compact)
* Small Kodak PAS
* iPad
* And of course some personal items like passports etc

I recon all this would fit - and you could probably put chargers / cables in the front pocket, see what you would do is have One lense on the canon , your spare in the next spot, your video, you point and shoot, Ipad would go in the spot for laptop. Front pocket has room to put a charger or 2 in , and maybe cables - but depends on how much.

With the gear I listed, you probably couldnt put much more in mine. But Im really happy with it! (besides with the lenses I rock - I bascially can do most kinds of photography!)

I quite like my Lowepro Flipside.


The entry to the bag is from the rear, as a bit of a safeguard from people unzipped your bag in busy public spots while travelling.